Let the Chips Fall Where They May

Idioms – Click on a parts of the picture to learn more

Let the Chips Fall Where They May

Literal

Meaning and History

This idiom first appeared in the late 1800s and actually refers to cutting wood. In other words, the lumberjack should focus on the task of cutting logs rather than worrying about the smaller chips that result from the cutting. Today the idiom has come to suggest that an individual should let things happen naturally and to not try to control everything.